Most Dependable Vehicles of 2018: J.D. Power
If you’re shopping for a new vehicle and dependability is at the top of your wish list, start here.
The J.D. Power 2018 Vehicle Dependability Study has been released, and along with ranking all the major automakers from most dependable to least dependable, J.D. Power has shared the top performing models per segment. We’ve compiled the data in an easy-to-read list so that you can see which vehicles are the most dependable in their class.
Small Car: Kia Rio
Topping the small car category this year is the Kia Rio. The Chevrolet Sonic placed second, while the Nissan Versa finished third.
Small Premium Car: Lexus CT
The small premium car segment sees the Lexus CT hybrid at the top of the list, while the BMW 2 Series was also recognized for its dependability.
Compact Car: Toyota Prius
The popular Toyota Prius ranked highest among compact cars, but the Buick Verano finished second, and the all-electric Nissan Leaf came in third.
Compact Premium Car: Lexus ES
The most dependable model in the compact premium car segment is the Lexus ES, followed by the Infiniti Q40, and the BMW 4 Series.
Midsize Car: Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu impressed in this year’s study, finishing top of the list in the midsize car segment. The Malibu bested the Toyota Camry, which came in second, and the Buick Regal that came in third.
Midsize Sporty Car: Dodge Challenger
In the midsize sporty car category, the Ford Mustang is nowhere to be seen. Instead, the Dodge Challenger is the most dependable in the segment, followed by the Chevrolet Camaro.
Midsize Premium Car: Lexus GS
Yet another Lexus model on the list, the GS was ranked highest in the midsize premium car segment, followed by the BMW 5 Series.
Large Car: Buick LaCrosse
American automakers dominated the large car segment, with the Buick LaCrosse ranked highest. The Chevrolet Impala came in second, while the Ford Taurus slid into third.
Small SUV: Hyundai Tucson
What’s shaping up to be a competitive segment, the small SUV category went to the Hyundai Tucson. Ranked second was the Chevrolet Trax, followed by the Volkswagen Tiguan in third.
Small Premium SUV: Audi Q3
Audi beat out its German rivals in the small premium SUV category, with the Q3 taking top honors. The BMW X1 came in second and the Mercedes-Benz GLA ranked third.
Compact SUV: Chevrolet Equinox
American automakers make up the top three in the compact SUV segment, with the Chevrolet Equinox ranked highest, followed by the GMC Terrain and Ford Escape.
Compact Premium SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLK
Audi may have beat Mercedes in the small premium SUV category, but the GLK is ranked highest in the compact premium SUV category. Keep in mind this year’s study measured the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles during the past 12 months by original owners of 2015 model year vehicles, which is why the GLK is on the list, even though it’s not sold any more. Second place goes to the Porsche Macan, while the Lexus NX finished third.
Midsize Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Only two trucks were recognized in the midsize pickup category, with the Toyota Tacoma beating out the Nissan Frontier for top honors.
Midsize SUV: Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse was named best-in-class for the midsize SUV category, followed by a three-way tie between the Buick Enclave, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Toyota Venza.
Midsize Premium SUV: Lexus RX
The popular and dependable Lexus RX tops the midsize premium SUV category, while the Lincoln MKX finished second and the Lexus GX followed in third.
Minivan: Honda Odyssey
There aren’t very many minivans left in today’s marketplace, but the Honda Odyssey is the most dependable, followed by the Chrysler Town & Country.
Large SUV: Ford Expedition
Only two large SUVs were recognized in this year’s study, with the Ford Expedition named most dependable. The Chevrolet Tahoe finished second in the category.
Large Light Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet’s Silverado manages to beat out the Ford F-150 in the large light duty pickup category. No third place finish was announced.
Large Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford Super Duty
The Ford F-Series Super Duty, however, beats out the Chevrolet Silverado HD for most dependable in the large heavy duty pickup category.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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You can buy any low mileage, clean carfax, one owner 6-year old American car for less than 10k; that tells a lot about their reliability.
How do you know they are dependable when they are new (2018)? Tell me what's dependable after 5 yrs.